Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-06-16
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| A Correspondents Who s..Its she Cause q.
Tl,eir s.erk al Jay.
Especial c,orrtsrnr,,ar.e1
Nrw Yoss, June s.
The people Of ttis city are NOT happy Fsx
ceptions there ars OF course rs some hsvt
such cheerful dispositions that nothing ga,
long depress them, and Others live in the sub
uIbs where they unite the advantages ol
country and city; hut still, taken rs q mass
Gothamites do not enjoy life As / wali
about the crowded sections the proofs Of I'M
happiness are too many and too plain 90 M
mistaken In one hours walk along tbs
Bowery I can see more strained and anxiou,
faces, more feverei. eyes and attenuatsi
forms, than would see in a lifetime in the
rural west. There is, indeed, deep cause for
anxiety, for am satisfied that three fourth.
of the men and women of this city never feel
easy as to their future, never feel certain that
tomorrow will as this day be. if not more
abundant. And as to the small minority
whose fortune is made, there are many forces
working against their comfort
1t is easy to see why life in a great com
mercal city is not happy. Happiness con-
-ssts in rational exercise and development
of all the faculties of body and mind. What
ever cuts off or duls one sense closes an ave-
nue. to enjoyment and so far lowers the gen
eral tone Of the senses; and at least four of
the five senses are dulled or perverted by life
in New York First. the sight is limited by
the high buildings and narrow streets; it is
weakened and perverted by tile constant
view OF gray stone, red brick or other wear
ing colors. The ruralist is forever exercising
his eye in the most healthful way. Now he
looks far across green fields and meadows,
now into the dark green forests; again he
mt mira
into the deep blue sky unIainted by smoke.
His eye is forever readjusting its focus to the
far and the near, and forever growing
stronger. But city children are as constantly
tending to nearsightedness. 1t is estimated
by physicians that 80 per cent. of the school
children in this city are, to some extent.
myoplc, and it is shocking to see the number
sf them who use glasses-shoclling TO see the
steel bow OH the nose Of a little fellow of 10
or IL who ought to be able to knock a squirrel
at sixty yards with rife If families could
live permanently In this city boys would be
born in the fifth generation who couldn't tell
a man from COW two squares away.
With hearing, it is still worse. Almost
every sound the ruralist hears is rhythrical
the lowing of cattle, the twitter of birds
the sigh of the wind in the trees, the cav of
the crows Even the donkeys bray is not
distinctly unmusical. But on the city's busy
streets every sound is discord-the rattle of
carts on the stony paving, lne roar o. ,Ae &C.
waited roads, the chatter of bells, the scream
of engines. Even the newsboys cry their
papers in harsh falsetto, which can only be
rivaled in a Chinese theatre. OF course the
ear is dulled and loses. its delicate sense of
harmony. l wonder if this is not the reason
city people can enjoy Wagnerian "music"-
the banging on anvils and clashing of metals
instead of melody. 1t might be worth while
to inquire it any of the great singers We're
born in families living on busy streets.
AS to food, the contrast is great The ru-
ralist gets his at first hand-the eggs just from
the hen, the milk from the cow, the fruits
and vegetables soon after they are gathered,
and water from the well or spring. OF sights
that offend the eye and shock the sensibilities,
the city is full-the blind, the deformed, the
vagabond, the drunkard. All these things
must have an adverse influence on nerve
centeis The city man, it is true, occasional
ly hears fine music, and is moro excited intel.
lectually; but it is question if this very ex-
citemeut is not in time exhausting, and hence.
fatal to happiness. These are but few of
many reasons for thinking that city life is
not joyous Be the causes what they NAV.
the fact is self evident-too many sad and
miserable looking people. 1t is plain case
to me that, taken as a mass, New Workers
are not happy. j. II. BEApLE.